14 passengers hurt as bus falls on its side

At least 14 passengers, including two infants, were hurt after the bus they were riding fell on one side along the national highway in Barangay Madridejos in Alegria town, 112 km south of Cebu City, at 11:35 p.m. on Sunday.

PO3 Ronyl Allera of the Alegria police said the Ceres bus with plate number 541-CEH was on its way to Barangay Bato, Samboan town on Sunday night when it swerved and hit an avocado tree before falling on its side in Barangay Madridejos.

Bus driver Casiano Mari Jr. told police that he was trying to avoid a person who was crossing the highway when the accident happened.

The bus passengers, including nine-month-old and five-month-old infants, were brought to Reinhardt Wertgen Memorial Hospital in Alegria for treatment. They were all discharged on Monday dawn.

Mari is now detained at the Alegria Police Station pending the filing of charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple injuries.

This is the second road accident involving the Ceres Liner. The other one  happened last Jan. 18 when a Korean national died while his compatriot was seriously injured after they were hit by a Ceres bus driven by Joventino Suerte in Barangay Bulacao, Talisay City, southern Cebu.

Donggeun Lang, 22, (male) was declared dead when he and his companion Hyegim Lee, 22, (female) were brought by paramedics of the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation to Cebu Doctors’ Hospital.